Cirrus Jet Single Flying by Oshkosh?

At the EBACE show in Geneva last week, Cirrus Design’s full-size mockup of its single-engine (and yet-to-be-named) jet enjoyed a prominent spot in Hall 7 next to the long-established business jet manufacturers. Cirrus employees are preparing the jet for its first flight, and although Cirrus chairman and CEO Alan Klapmeier said he would like to have the jet appear at this year’s EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wis., in late July, he wouldn’t predict when the flight will take place. Cirrus has placed an Aero Vodochody L-39 jet trainer into service as a chase plane for the first flight, which will take place at Cirrus’s headquarters in Duluth, Minn. “We’re not pushing them to do anything before they’re ready,” a Cirrus spokeswoman said. “We don’t want to make the team feel rushed, and we’re letting them make sure it’s safe.” Cirrus holds orders for 468 of the $1 million jets, each secured by a $100,000 deposit.